Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his dark and mysterious works of literature. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1809 and died in Baltimore, Maryland in 1849. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 19th century and is credited with inventing the detective fiction genre. His works include 'The Raven', 'The Tell-Tale Heart', and 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.